Shipping giant Maersk to take over Panama Canal ports after court ruling

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Lyndal RowlandsJanuary 31, 2026 at 07:44 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

In January 2026, Danish firm Maersk will temporarily operate two ports on the Panama Canal, replacing Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison. This follows a Panama Supreme Court ruling that CK Hutchison's port contracts were unconstitutional due to "disproportionate bias." The Panama Maritime Authority announced that APM Terminals, part of the Maersk Group, will become the temporary administrator of the Balboa and Cristobal ports. The court decision came after repeated threats from then US President Donald Trump, who claimed China effectively controlled the strategic waterway. The Panama Canal handles a significant portion of US and world trade. While the US welcomed the decision, China stated it would protect the rights of its companies.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Guo Jiakun 30% Cristobal 40% Balboa 40% APM Terminals 50% Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) ×260% China ×260% United States ×370% Donald Trump 70% Panama ×280% CK Hutchison ×480% Maersk ×490% Panama Canal ×395%

Keywords

panama canal 100% port takeover 90% maersk 80% ck hutchison 70% us-china relations 60% maritime shipping 60% port contracts 50% trade routes 50% panama maritime authority 40%